There’s a reason the term "Champagne Powder" was coined in Steamboat Springs in 1958 by Kremmling rancher Joe McElroy. The ski area gets some of the most and best powder not only in the state, but the enitre country.
“It’s truly what distinguishes Steamboat from most other resorts,” says local Olympian Nelson Carmichael. “Steamboat gets some of the best snow in the country, plain and simple.”
The reason is its unique topography. As the first barrier storms encounter as they move across the deserts of northern Utah and Colorado, the resort’s Park mountain range traps snowfall like early settlers did small game. And it’s some of the lightest, driest snowfall you’ll find anywhere.
Snowfall totals have surpassed 400 inches during four of the past seven winters, including 433 in 2011 year, jump-started by a record-setting 90 inches in November. The record winter of 2007-08 saw 489 inches of snow, including three consecutive months of 100-plus inches (that’s 58 powder days of 4-plus inches of snow). And in 2012 the resort set a single-day mid-mountain snowfall record of 27 inches. All that means you’re likely to get a powder day during your stay.
There’s also plenty of space to track it up. The resort’s 2,965 skiable acres make it one of the largest ski areas in the state, and its world-class tree skiing in places like Closets and Shadows maintain powder stashes for days after a storm. Add 3,668 feet of vertical and 165 named trails (not to mention the countless glades) and you get a resort for skiers of all abilities, with 14 percent of its runs for beginners, 42 percent for intermediates and 44 percent for advanced.
The mountain offers world-class terrain for carvers and freestylers as well as powderhounds. A fleet of 21 grooming machines — including a new Bison Sherpa winch, the first of its kind in Colorado — corduroy more than 600 acres nightly. For park riders, its four terrain parks, highlighted by Mavericks Superpipe — a 500-foot-long halfpipe with 18-foot walls and 22-foot transitions — provide fun for the whole freeride family.
To maximize your visit, arrive early. Lifts open between 8:30 and 9 a.m., with the gondola taking its first passengers at 8:30 a.m. (if it’s a powder day, try the resort’s First Tracks program, which gets you up ahead of the pack). For lessons, Steamboat’s award-winning ski and snowboard school includes six Olympian instructors, as well as the new FLAIK GPS system, which lets you monitor your kids’ whereabouts and relive it on the computer back home. The Kids’ Vacation Center offers a variety of kids programs as well, and is just one reason Steamboat has been named the No. 1 Family Resort in the West by SKI magazine.
On-mountain facilities include the new Four Points Lodge, as well as Thunderhead Lodge at the top of the gondola and Rendezvous Lodge off the Sundown and Sunshine lifts. Fine dining can be found at Hazie’s and Ragnar’s. For apres, a variety of bars and restaurants line the slopes at the resort’s base, including the outside deck and Umbrella Bar at the Bear River Grill, the ice bar at Slopeside and the locals hang-out of the T-Bar. The ski area also hosts the Bud Light Rocks the ‘Boat concert series, featuring free music in gondola square, as well as the Steamboat MusicFest and Ski Jam. Other special events take place throughout the season.
Top all this with town’s genuine western hospitality (Steamboat was a ranching town way before it ever became a world-class resort, meaning everyone treats you like a neighbor) and you get a winter destination offering everything from friendliness to first tracks, which you can toast with the resort’s namesake Champagne afterward.
Nordic skiing
Want to sample Nordic skiing after a day on the slopes? The Steamboat region’s four Nordic centers offer more than 120 kilometers of groomed trails for classic cross-country and skate skiing, as well as snow-shoeing, all within 30 minutes of downtown.
Howelsen Hill
You’ll likely share the trail with an Olympian at Howelsen Hill. Located in the heart of downtown, its 21 kilometers of trails are maintained by the city and Steamboat Springs Nordic Council, and are often part of the Nordic Combined World Cup cross-country circuit. From late December through March the trails (20 percent beginner, 20 percent expert, 60 percent intermediate) are groomed three times weekly. In general, they’re a bit steeper than other trails in the area. Note: skiers must have their own equipment. Cost: $14/day. Info: www.steamboatsprings.net, 970-879-4300.
Lake Catamount
The Catamount Nordic Center off Colo. Hwy. 131 offers 30 kilometers of groomed trails, characterized by flat, easy-rolling terrain and wide open views of Lake Catamount, Mt. Baldy and Pleasant Valley. For dog lovers, the area also offers 10 kilometers of dog-friendly trails (cost: $2/dog, maximum two dogs/person). All dogs must be on a leash and no dogs are allowed Friday through Sunday. The trails are open daily, with the Club House restaurant open Wednesday through Sunday. The center also offers lessons, including a new four-week clinic on Fridays. Rentals $17/day. Cost: $18/day. Info: www.catamountranchclub.com, 970-871-6667
Steamboat Ski Touring Center
At the Steamboat Ski Touring Center, nearly 14 kilometers of groomed Nordic trails wind through aspen groves along Fish Creek, offering some of the most scenic and accessible Nordic skiing in the valley. The trails are rated novice to advanced and are groomed for both classic and skate skiing. The center also offers 10 kilometers of forested snowshoe trails, as well as a full-service rental and retail store carrying the latest in cross-country ski and snowshoe equipment. It also offers daily lessons taught by area experts. Refuel at the "Picnic Basket" with hearty homemade soups, breads, hot drinks and more. Cost: $18/day ($16 late arrival after 1 p.m.); rentals $13. Info: www.steamboatnordiccenter.com, 970-879-8180
Steamboat Lake
The Steamboat Lake State Park Touring Center is 25 miles north of Steamboat Springs on County Road 129. The area usually opens by Christmas, with trails groomed by the Steamboat Lake Snow Club. Dogs are allowed but must be on a six-foot leash. The center features 15 kilometers of groomed beginner and intermediate trails, with grooming twice per week. There are no services available, so bring your own gear; meals are available at the Clark Store Deli, Glen Eden, Hahn's Peak Cafe and Hahn’s Peak Roadhouse nearby. You can also rent trailside cabins from the marina (970-879-7019). Cost: $7 per vehicle (passes available at the park visitor center or self-service station). Info: 970-879-3922, http://parks.state.co.us/parks/steamboatlake